Setting goals

I really had to laugh at Alycia's comment today about starting new projects.

 It seems that's all I've been doing for the last several days.  And "guess who" likes to be in the middle of it all.

 So this morning I set my sights on this little lovely.

 Having decided on the baptist fan pattern, I pulled out my home made stencil using blank radiology film.

A Peter Pan print from who knows how long ago became the backing.

A second backing was pieced to match the newest pink 9-patch.

Another item on the list, trimming the edges of over 50 fat quarters pulled from a bin and washed this week.  They were in coordinating bundles packed away for a rain day.

Guess what, it's raining.  And I had to ask myself, "exactly what am I saving these for?"

This led to finding more pieces that were tucked away here and there.  Again, why?

Tonight I'm working on more goals, getting borders on 2 quilts.  Of course I had to take a break and cook dinner, as well as bake a birthday cake for a friend. 

How many projects are you working on today?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Lions, tigers, and bears . . . Oh my!

But in reality, there are

 bees, fish, pennies, bugs,

 stars, footballs, plaids,

and of course jelly beans.

In the very big one-patch quilt.  At least 30 years of fabric collecting is represented here.

Each square was carefully selected and placed.  The quilting table had to be raised even more to fit the backing.

My flu symptoms are back today so the quiet task of pinning filled the bill.  No vigorous yard work was permitted, which is a shame as the weather was perfect.

If you have to go out shopping, wear gloves and possibly a mask.  This flu season is the worst I've seen in awhile.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

YEAH, I found it!

Dolly is so excited. 

And so am I. 

Here's the web site with the pocket directions I need.

YEAH!

Seek and find with NO find!

I need your help . . . I really do.

Somewhere out there in "messenger bag tutorial land" is a technique for putting a zipper in using  separate pieces.  It looks something like this.

It's rather hard to explain, but I know if you've seen the concept, you'll know exactly what I'm referring to.  Would you mind sending me the link?

I've spent several hours searching to no avail.

And Dolly would rather be out walking in the rain rather than wait for me by the computer.

Thanks "sew" much.

Signed, Frustrated in Blog Land

Who doesn't like pizza?

My recipe will be listed at the bottom of this post.

I've recently discovered a tasty version using Barilla pesto sauce and cubed chicken breast.

 A warm pink binding finished off the new log cabin.

It took over an hour to get it hung up today.  It's a tricky area needing a ladder and push pins in the wall set just right.

Three yard sticks were taped together with painters' tape to equal the width of the quilt.  A small drill bit set a hole in each end corner and thin wire was run through to form a small loop.  The wire loops go around push pins.  The middle of the yard stick sits atop other push pins.

This is a portable method allowing me to move quilts of varying sizes around often.

Here's Dolly enjoying the late afternoon sunshine on her rug in the middle of the great room.

Pizza Dough Recipe (Piroshki)  - (given to me by Suzy about 20 years ago)

1 package yeast
1 Tablespoon honey
1 cup warm milk
3 Tablespoons melted butter
3-4 cups - combination of high glutton flour, bread flour, regular flour (I bought high glutton flour from my favorite pizza restaurant.  It makes a huge difference.)
1 egg

Dilute yeast and honey in warm milk.  Add butter and enough flour to make a batter.  Let rise in warm place until double.

Add dash of salt and one egg.  Add enough flour to make a soft dough.  Knead well.  Let rise until double.

Heat your pizza stone to 425 degrees for at least 15 minutes.  Lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees.

Roll out dough forming the edges and place on heated pizza stone.  Brush a light coating of olive oil over the dough including the crust edges.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Having cubed and cooked the chicken, it was coated with about 2 tablespoons of pesto.

I sliced one onion thinly, added a jar of rinsed mushrooms and heated through until onions were limp and fairly dry.  In the pan went one half cup of thickened spaghetti sauce.  Then the cubed chicken so everything was warm.

Once the crust had cooked 10 minutes, the chicken mixture was added, topped with shredded mozzarella cheese.  I grate my own cheese so it does not dry out.

Everything bakes at 400 degrees for another 10 minutes.

This makes enough to feed 3 adults or 1 teenage boy.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .